Eur. Phys. J. E (2003) 11: 131-140
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2002-10152-7

Dispersive flow of disks through a two-dimensional Galton board

¹ Groupe Matière Condensée et Matériaux (UMR CNRS 6626), Université de Rennes I, Bât. 11A, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
² Grupo de Medios Porosos, Facultad de Ingenierıa, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paseo Colón 850, 1063, Buenos Aires, Argentina

^* e-mail: lbruno@fi.uba.ar

Received: 31 October 2002
Published online: 25 June 2003

Abstract

We report here an experimental and numerical study of the flow properties of disks driven by gravity through a hexagonal lattice of obstacles, i.e. a Galton board. During the fall, particles experience dissipative collisions that scatter them in random directions. A driven-diffusion regime can be achieved under certain conditions. A characteristic length of the motion and its dependence on geometrical parameters of the system is analyzed in the steady regime. The influence of collective effects on the dispersion process is investigated by comparison between single- and many-particle flows. The characterization of the dynamics and the diffusive properties of the flow in a system like a Galton board can be expanded to other granular systems, particularly static solid particle mixers and will give some insight in understanding granular mixing.